Caption: Spruce leaves. Close-up of the leaves of the spruce tree (Picea sp.) growing on twigs. The spruce is a tree of the pine family. It is a common tree of North America, Asia and Europe, and extends further north than the majority of other trees. It forms large forests in the Arctic circle, and also extends far south, particularly in mountainous areas. The wood is used for building, as fuel and is pulped to form paper.